I’m sure that I’m not alone in being grateful that this past year is finally over.

Come to think of it, I’ve felt that way for the past six or so years.

It isn’t just about the current administration, either – although that’s certainly no coincidence – but rather about our collective outlook.

To say that we live in divisive times has come to both have a cliché ring to it, and represent a monumental understatement. In fact, many of us have worn our derision towards one another as a badge of honor, fanning the flames of incivility and disrespect.

Well, for my New Year’s resolution, I simply say “Enough!” It’s time to bring true civility and consideration back into style.
What do I mean by “true” civility and consideration? I mean a genuine regard for my fellow human beings and their right to have their own perspectives. We can disagree, and one of us can even be completely wrong, but that doesn’t mean we have the right to personally insult or assault one another. My caring about the environment doesn’t make me a “moonbat,” just as your homophobia, support for the war, desire to drive an FUV…well, whatever, doesn’t make you a bad person.

This isn’t to say that civility means being a candy-ass, in fact quite the opposite: It means having high enough regard for one another to be honest and sincere with them, while at the same time separating the issue of disagreement from the person doing the disagreeing.

I resolve to not only engage in that, but also to help others see the distinction. Especially, the next time I read something like this:

“Without all that filthy American money, [Gwyneth Paltrow] would still be stuck here in the States known as that miserable blonde girl with a New York mansion who used to be engaged to Brad Pitt–instead of that smug blonde girl with a London mansion married to a moonbat who makes a living trashing the capitalistic society that puts food in their children’s mouths.”

Rather than hope that Coulter, Malkin, O’Reilly, et al, will just go away, I believe it is our obligation as human beings to defend their victim-of-the-day’s right to have and express a dissenting opinion, and challenge them to counter those opinions without resorting to personal attacks. It’s unlikely that they’ll change their ways, but perhaps some of their readers will see that there’s no real substance to the views they choose to express.

I encourage you to do the same.